Dancing on the golden ashes

In this world, there was nothing left for me. Only despair and the suffocating guilt that gnawed at my chest. Why should I continue down this path? What's the point? Maybe I should just give up. I didn't feel like doing anything anymore. This journey... was it worth it? I felt too conflicted to decide.

I couldn't tell how many days had passed since I left the ruins of Luminara. Was it weeks? Months? Certainly not a year. Maybe it should've mattered, but it didn't. Time was just another weight to carry, another reminder of the suffering that followed me.

When I finally returned to my senses, I found myself standing near a large lake. Golden grass dotted the ground around me, swaying gently in the wind. It was beautiful. But what was the point of beauty if there was no one left to share it with? Not even Malrang was here. She was gone.

I looked down at my reflection in the still water. The crimson hair I once cherished now felt like a symbol of the blood spilled, the lives lost. I wanted to tear myself apart with it all.

"I hate it..." I muttered, the words bitter in my mouth. My hand instinctively clenched my hair, lifting it toward the sky.

My scythe manifested at my command. Without a second thought, I slashed through the strands, severing them. The long, beautiful hair fell to the ground in pieces, and most of it was carried away by the wind.

I glanced back at my reflection, watching as the hair, now cut short, barely brushed the top of my neck. I couldn't see it clearly anymore, and maybe that was a blessing. My eyes had changed too. The light-blue hue was so foreign to me, and yet, here it was. Why is this happening to me? How much more would I change before I am unrecognizable to even myself?

"For now, that will do..." My reflection was more demon than human now, but with how much I had changed, I doubted anyone would recognize me if I met them. There were still some survivors from the empire, but I no longer cared. Enough was enough. It was time to move on, to embrace the life that had always been fated for me—living alone in pain. Maybe if I trained hard enough, I could escape this world. Escape this system. Was that even possible?

I waited, hoping to hear the eerie voice, but it remained silent. Not a word, not even an echo. It ignored me, just like everything else.

I looked up at the sky, clear and cloudless, as if mocking me. "What a nice day to die..."

But did I want to die? Yes, and no. It's complicated. I had to live for just a little while longer, for the souls that accompanied me. My friends were still with me, in a way. All I had to do now was seek revenge, but... why bother? Why drag myself through that? If the monster crossed my path, I'd slash a few times, and it would be over. But did I even have that kind of power?

Right, I still had so many stat points. Maybe I could use them to grow even stronger. But the system had blocked them. Could I use them now?

I checked the window. It was working fine now. If I wanted, I could upgrade any second. "Great. The fate really is messing with me..."

But deep down, I knew it wasn't fate itself that was toying with me. It was the creator of this damn system. I couldn't understand what he had against me. He said he didn't need me anymore, so why this? Why the quest? What happened to that promise?

"Forget it," I muttered to myself. "I have a monster to find and kill. My friends won't rest in peace unless I finish this."

I stared into the horizon, uncertain of where this journey would take me. But I was ready. I had to be.

A year passed. I'd traveled across several continents in search of the one responsible, but still, no sign of him. The souls inside me lived in some kind of harmony—or so I assumed. Strangely, my own power seemed to nourish them, feeding them every day. They grew stronger, but what did that matter? They had no bodies, no form. They were dead. They existed only as food for me to consume someday. But I swore to never touch them. Not even if I were dying.

During this time, I had killed and killed, slaying monsters that got in my way. But strangely enough, I wasn't motivated to chase after those who ran. There didn't seem to be any fun in that anymore. I didn't even know why I decided to go on this journey. Staying in one place, doing nothing, that sounded so much more appealing. But one thing led to another, and now, here I was—at level 100. I had thought 99 would be the limit, but it seemed I was wrong. I could keep going. And now, I was ranked number 4 in the world. Not that I cared. People could surpass me, I didn't feel any joy in competing anymore. Even if someone did pass me, I could easily take them down with a flick of my finger. Heh.

"Strange," I muttered to myself, my gaze fixed on what was ahead of me. "Why does this one look like a powerhouse? Could it be a demigod?" In front of me stood a massive mountain, or so it appeared. But when I inspected it through the system, the truth was revealed.

[Level 198]

[Demigod level beast]

[The Mountain Immortal]

[Stats:]

[Strength: 5,150,300]

[Agility: 130,313]

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[Defense: 13,120,319]

[Attack: 5,510,670]

[Magic attack: 1,080,699]

[Stamina: 10,500,100]

I sighed deeply. "Well, it's time to slay a mountain… that's a first..." My scythe manifested into existence, its dark form shining with an ominous glow. I could feel the darkness emanating from it.

I tightened my grip on it, ready to face the mountain in front of me. "Time to upgrade my own stats first..."